Queen Elizabeth II strips of Prince Andrew’s titles after US judge ruled that he will face trial over sexual abuse allegations
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Queen Elizabeth II has stripped Prince Andrew of his military titles and royal patronages following the decision of a US judge to bin The Duke of York's motion to dismiss the sexual abuse lawsuit that was filed against him.

A palace insider told ITV news that the monarch personally told Andrew on Thursday that he will be stripped of his titles.

Her Majesty told Prince Andrew in person that she will remove his royal duties and permanently remove him from public life on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images. ​

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen."

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”

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A source close to Andrew said that the duke would "continue to defend himself" against the accusations of Ms Giuffre.

In conjunction with the Queen's decision, Andrew will no longer use the style "His Royal Highness” in any official capacity, constituting his complete removal from official royal life permanently.

Additionally, the 61-year-old duke will be stripped of the title of Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, one of the oldest and most emblematic regiments in the British Army.

Prince Andrew's other British honorary military titles were: Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth; Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment; Colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps; Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm; Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers; Deputy Colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeths’ Own); and Royal Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

It was said that apart from the proposition that the "hugely embarassing" civil lawsuit against the Duke of York will push through, the move to remove his titles was also prompted by calls from veterans.

More than 150 former members of Royal Navy, RAF and British Army penned an open letter to the Queen — the head of armed forces — describing their "upset and anger" towards Andrew retaining his titles despite the scandal.

The veterans said that the Duke of York's position is "untenable"

The open letter read:

"We are writing to you as former members of Britain's armed forces. All of us have served our country and are proud to have done so. For that reason, we are particularly upset and angry that Prince Andrew remains a member of the armed forces and continues to hold military titles, positions and ranks, including that of Vice Admiral of the Royal Navy.

It’s been eleven years since the press revealed Prince Andrew’s inappropriate friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Since that time Prince Andrew has shown himself to be uncooperative and less than truthful about that relationship. He has made several unbelievable claims during a BBC interview in late 2019, which only led to him 'stepping back' but not stepping down. Now that Ghislaine Maxwell has been convicted of sex trafficking, a number of facts of the matter have been established in a court of law. Regardless of the result of Virginia Giuffre’s civil case against Prince Andrew, his position in Britain's armed forces is now untenable.

Were this any other senior military officer it is inconceivable that he would still be in post. Officers of the British armed forces must adhere to the very highest standards of probity, honesty and honourable conduct. These are standards that Prince Andrew has fallen well short of. It is hard not to see when senior officers are reportedly describing him as ‘toxic’, that he has brought the services he is associated with into disrepute.

We are therefore asking that you take immediate steps to strip Prince Andrew of all his military ranks and titles and, if necessary, that he be dishonourably discharged.

We understand that he is your son, but we write to you in your capacity as head of state and as Commander-in-Chief of the Army, Navy and Air Force. These steps could have been taken at any time in the past eleven years. Please do not leave it any longer."

A source said that Andrew's military posts would be redistributed among the other members of The Royal Family, marking The Duke of York's permanent removal from public life.

Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood MP reacted told the BBC: "Prince Andrew already had stepped back from many of his public duties - I think all of them, as well - so I think this was anticipated, indeed it was expected, from this perspective, so I'm actually not surprised."

Credit: YouTube/BBC News​

While the Queen had stripped Andrew of his titles, he will remain in the line of succession to the throne and is still a Counsellor of State.

The role of Counsellor of State is undertaken by any spouse of the monarch and the next four adults in the line of succession, currently the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York.

In the event that Her Majesty could not perform her official duties as sovereign on a temporary basis due to illness or absence abroad, the Letters Patent will appoint two or more Counsellors of State to act on behalf of the Queen.

 

[Goodbloke]

Queen Elizabeth II strips of Prince Andrew’s titles after US judge ruled that he will face trial over sexual abuse allegations
​

Queen Elizabeth II has stripped Prince Andrew of his military titles and royal patronages following the decision of a US judge to bin The Duke of York's motion to dismiss the sexual abuse lawsuit that was filed against him.

A palace insider told ITV news that the monarch personally told Andrew on Thursday that he will be stripped of his titles.

Her Majesty told Prince Andrew in person that she will remove his royal duties and permanently remove him from public life on Thursday. Credit: Getty Images. ​

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “With the Queen’s approval and agreement, the Duke of York’s military affiliations and Royal patronages have been returned to the Queen."

“The Duke of York will continue not to undertake any public duties and is defending this case as a private citizen.”

​

A source close to Andrew said that the duke would "continue to defend himself" against the accusations of Ms Giuffre.

In conjunction with the Queen's decision, Andrew will no longer use the style "His Royal Highness” in any official capacity, constituting his complete removal from official royal life permanently.

Additionally, the 61-year-old duke will be stripped of the title of Colonel of the Grenadier Guards, one of the oldest and most emblematic regiments in the British Army.

Prince Andrew's other British honorary military titles were: Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Lossiemouth; Colonel-in-chief of the Royal Irish Regiment; Colonel-in-chief of the Small Arms School Corps; Commodore-in-Chief of the Fleet Air Arm; Royal Colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers; Deputy Colonel-in-chief of The Royal Lancers (Queen Elizabeths’ Own); and Royal Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Scotland.

It was said that apart from the proposition that the "hugely embarassing" civil lawsuit against the Duke of York will push through, the move to remove his titles was also prompted by calls from veterans.

More than 150 former members of Royal Navy, RAF and British Army penned an open letter to the Queen — the head of armed forces — describing their "upset and anger" towards Andrew retaining his titles despite the scandal.

The veterans said that the Duke of York's position is "untenable"

The open letter read:


A source said that Andrew's military posts would be redistributed among the other members of The Royal Family, marking The Duke of York's permanent removal from public life.

Chair of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee Tobias Ellwood MP reacted told the BBC: "Prince Andrew already had stepped back from many of his public duties - I think all of them, as well - so I think this was anticipated, indeed it was expected, from this perspective, so I'm actually not surprised."

Credit: YouTube/BBC News​

While the Queen had stripped Andrew of his titles, he will remain in the line of succession to the throne and is still a Counsellor of State.

The role of Counsellor of State is undertaken by any spouse of the monarch and the next four adults in the line of succession, currently the Prince of Wales, the Duke of Cambridge, the Duke of Sussex and the Duke of York.

In the event that Her Majesty could not perform her official duties as sovereign on a temporary basis due to illness or absence abroad, the Letters Patent will appoint two or more Counsellors of State to act on behalf of the Queen.

In the end, as his Mother, she must be disappointed with him.

 

[Ricci]

You can strip him of everything except family. I would imagine his poor mother is beside herself and his father (who was no angel) must be spinning in his grave. The negative sentiment directed towards the institution that is the Royal Family because of this could easily hasten the demise of said institution.

 

[Lynette Finnigan]

I still find it amazing that there are fist fulls of rich and powerful Americans (politicians, lawyers, judges, etc)... on the lists of names, but they want to name the foreigner as the big perpetrator!! He was probably at these parties thinking they were legal and consenting adults....from the photo of them together, she looked very comfortable with him and he would be assuming that whatever they did together was mutual from that sort of contact, it's not like he had her handcuffed! And the Americans act like he was the one gathering and mesmerising the girls into compliance rather than their own Epstein...... now he's even abandoned by his family....and not even had a court case...I thought the laws were still "innocent until proven guilty"....???.

 

[emcneil1947&gmail.com]

I still find it amazing that there are fist fulls of rich and powerful Americans (politicians, lawyers, judges, etc)... on the lists of names, but they want to name the foreigner as the big perpetrator!! He was probably at these parties thinking they were legal and consenting adults....from the photo of them together, she looked very comfortable with him and he would be assuming that whatever they did together was mutual from that sort of contact, it's not like he had her handcuffed! And the Americans act like he was the one gathering and mesmerising the girls into compliance rather than their own Epstein...... now he's even abandoned by his family....and not even had a court case...I thought the laws were still "innocent until proven guilty"....???.

I agree. It sure has taken this woman long enough to step forward with her complaint. At 16 she knew what she was doing, or going to do. She could have stopped meeting with these men at anytime. These women, who speak out when it suits them, are a disgrace to womanhood.. I was married, pregnant, at 16, no-one to blame but myself. Why do these judges always side with the women/? The lawyers love it....The woman will end up a millionaire, poor darling, woe is me!!!!!!!! Having said that, Andrew should speak out for himself, he is no different to YOU or I. It's the queen I feel sorry for. She has always been loyal to the throne, and the people, Been there for her kids no matter what. QUEEN ELIZABETH IS A CREDIT TO THE THRONE. AND HERSELF....

 

[thomas]

I still find it amazing that there are fist fulls of rich and powerful Americans (politicians, lawyers, judges, etc)... on the lists of names, but they want to name the foreigner as the big perpetrator!! He was probably at these parties thinking they were legal and consenting adults....from the photo of them together, she looked very comfortable with him and he would be assuming that whatever they did together was mutual from that sort of contact, it's not like he had her handcuffed! And the Americans act like he was the one gathering and mesmerising the girls into compliance rather than their own Epstein...... now he's even abandoned by his family....and not even had a court case...I thought the laws were still "innocent until proven guilty"....???.

"innocent until proved guilty" ?? that's a laugh, these days you are guilty until you can prove yourself innocent!! especially when it's a woman making an accusation, even if it is 20-40 yrs late, laugh laugh laugh !!!

 

[Tervueren]

I doubt that the Queen would have done this if he had been innocent.
Something is off in the streets of London...

 

[thomas]

innocent or not, the accusation was made and the Queen had no option otherwise it would be said that "the royals can do anything they want", she can't even "defend" her son as any "other" mother would

I doubt that the Queen would have done this if he had been innocent.
Something is off in the streets of London...

 

[Tervueren]

Yes Thomas I do agree with you. If the Queen had done nothing people would only have gossipped more than they are doing now! You are quite correct when you say that the Queen can not even defend her son like any usual Mother, as it would be particularly unseemly and quite inappropriate for her to do so. I must also say that I can only admire Queen Elizabeth II as she has ALWAYS acted responsibly and would only ever behave in a manner that was acceptable for a woman of her stature and calling. People seem to forget that - she has NEVER behaved inappropriately nor set a bad example - something that many folks should pay a lot more attention to methinks.......